WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) celebrated Greek Independence Day at the White House on March 25, 2011. AHI President Nick Larigakis and Board of Directors Secretary Nicholas Karambelas attended the ceremony officiated by President Barack Obama and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios.

“We thank President Obama for demonstrating ‘philotimo’ toward the Greek American community by hosting this event to honor Greek Independence,” Larigakis said. “The event served to reaffirm the strong bonds of friendship between Greece and the United States and to bring attention to the fact that this relationship is etched intrinsically by virtue of the noble democratic ideals and principles that guided our Founding Fathers in establishing our own country.”

Also invited but could not attend the White House ceremony were AHI Founder and Board Member Gene Rossides and AHI Foundation President Dr. Spiro Spireas.

AHI will host its “Congressional Salute to Greek Independence Day” on April 6, 2011, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., 2255 Rayburn House Office Building, in cooperation with U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), co-chairs of the Hellenic Caucus.

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American public policy center that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.

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For additional information, please contact Demetra Atsaloglou at (202) 785-8430 or at [email protected]. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at http://www.ahiworld.org.